The merger of Continental Airlines and United Airlines won't result in clerical or management layoffs, except for corporate officers, until at least next March, Continental said Friday.

The two airlines hope to complete a merger by the end of this quarter. The airline would be called United, headquartered in United's home of Chicago and led by Continental's chief executive, Jeff Smisek.

Subsequent clerical and management job cuts will depend on the integration plan developed by the merging airlines.

Continental has about 3,000 clerical and management workers in its downtown Houston headquarters.

Some employees won't be affected by cuts until after 2012, when the merged airline expects to receive its single operating certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Shortly after the merger deal was announced May 3, Smisek said he expected it would have minimal effect on front-line employees, such as pilots, flight attendants and mechanics, and that involuntary cuts would be reduced by retirements, attrition and voluntary programs.